Disposable vs. Cloth Diapers

There are many options available to today’s parents when it comes to diapers for their baby. Disposable diapers continue to be popular because of the convenience of just throwing away dirty diapers. However, disposable diapers are expensive, and eco-friendly, biodegradable versions are even more costly. Because disposable diapers are highly absorbent, there is some feeling that children are more susceptible to diaper rash in disposables, since babies may wear dirty diapers for longer periods of time.

Cloth diapers come in two varieties – wash them yourself or from a diaper service. Washing them yourself is the least expensive option, but even a diaper service can end up being less expensive than disposables. Many people picture safety pins when they think of cloth diapers, but cloth diaper wraps with Velcro closings have eliminated the need for pins.

In the end (excuse the pun!), each family must decide which diaper option works best for them. Before deciding on disposable by default, it’s worth looking into the pros and cons of cloth diapers.

Here are some interesting diaper facts:

For more information on diaper choices, see this Consumer Reports article.